I found this New York Times article interesting as it starts off
saying kids would be better off not going to school, rather than making
PowerPoints for projects. One brief explanation given by the author is
that it teaches kids to write about 80 words in 5 slides rather than composing
a paper. As a result, one Assistant Professor commented that PowerPoint
is one tool teachers implement to communicate information, and that if it was
the one and only means for communication, it would be a problem. More
specifically, she states that if teachers use PowerPoint as well as speeches,
eulogies, visual tools, journals, writing, debates, etc, then PowerPoint is not
"evil" as the author suggests. I am glad this professor was
chosen to speak about the subject. As with most things in life, too much
of one thing is never good. Using a broad range technology is another
example of best practice in the classroom.
I agree!!! We need moderation for all of it!! Thanks for sharing the article.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this article! I too agree that too much PowerPoint is never a good thing. As I alluded to within my own post regarding PowerPoint, I believe there are several other presentation formats available that teachers can use to engage students in a much more interactive way. Prezi is one example, which the professor within this article talks about, that allows students a great deal of creativity and individuality in the actual creation of their presentation.
ReplyDeleteAs much as I believe it is essential to expose students to several presentation mediums, I think it is unrealistic as a teacher to never use or teach students how to use PowerPoint. Should students choose to pursue higher education, they will undoubtedly have to create a presentation using PowerPoint. Furthermore, many companies outside the realm of education use PowerPoint as an effective means to relay information to their employees and clients. If we are to truly adhere to the Common Core Learning Standards and ensure that our students are both college and career ready, I think we must acknowledge the fact that teaching students how to create an effective PowerPoint must fall within this skill set. PowerPoint is not evil if used in moderation and if regarded as a tool among many in a student's toolkit.
I agree that PowerPoint is used throughout different careers and professions regarding presentations. I did notice the authors mention of prezi, which I have not yet used. I actually never knew what a prezi was until my first year of graduate school. However, I think most students (in all levels of education) would benefit from learning how to use it (along with other technology mediums)!
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